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This is the starting position in the goal. Keep your feet at a shoulder width position and bend the knees slightly. Also keep your arms slightly bent. Don’t stretch them out (extend them fully), that will make it harder to reach the ball.

Follow the ball

Follow the ball

You have to find a curve to work along in the goal where you feel comfortable. Follow the movement of the Ball with small steps, this way you can react at all times. Always keep your eyes on the ball. Use the goalposts now and then to check that you have the correct position in the goal.

Starting position arms

Starting position arms

Keep your arms in a relaxed position so that you can react to the ball. Use controlled movements to save the ball. Find a position in the goal where you can cover as much as possible while using small movements, whether it’s a hand or a foot.

Saving high shots

Saving high shots

Use your standing leg to push off towards the far corner. Keep your eyes open and react to the ball. It’s the push off, and your position in the goal, that will determine if you save the ball.

Low shots

Low shots

Take a step away from the corner that you want to practice. It will force you to push off with the standing leg. By doing so, you will train your technique and your push off. It’s the power of the push off that gives you the speed to reach the corner. Don’t forget to bring your arm down to cover over the foot.

Combination exercise

Combination exercise

This is an exercise to increase the speed of your movements in the goal, with one high and one low shot.

Try to make the movements as small as possible and keep your eyes on the ball.

It’s important to train with the right technique, don’t take any shortcuts!

Long pass

Long pass

Take a couple of steps to the far side to get a better angle. Try to play the ball over the defender so that your team mate can run into it.

Shots from the wing

Shots from the wing

One option to save a shot from a wing player, is to leave a space between yourself and the first goalpost and then close this gap.

Another option is to leave the far corner open, and using small steps move with the wing player and then close the gap.

Line player

Line player

It’s often important to move quickly towards the pivot to cut of the angle. To train this you can use two pivots. It’s important to move quickly towards the first pivot, then back to the starting point and then to explode towards the second pivot.

High one hand save

High one hand save

By placing himself in the right angle towards the shooter, the goalkeeper can cover large parts of the goal.

In this video we can se how the goalkeeper with the help from a high arm position, parries shots aimed at the top corners, with the help of one-hand saves.

The primary objective is to steer the ball outside the goal, but it's optimal to angle the ball down on the floor and thereby be able to quickly throw the ball to counter attacking teammates.

The save requires strong shoulders, elbows, wrists and a very good feeling for positioning.

Far corner save

Far corner save

In this video we can see the wingman launching his shot and the goalkeeper is trying to make him aim for the far corner.

The goalkeeper is very offensive and adjusts his position by several small movements. When the shot is finally launched, the goalkeeper blocks the far corner with both his arms and left leg.

Please note that this is executed with full force and in an explosive way.

Save with trailing arm

Save with trailing arm

As always, during penalty throw it is a battle between the goalkeepers experience and that of the shooters. In this video the goalkeeper wants the shooter to aim to his right side.

He leads the shooter on by making a movement with his left leg just before the shot is launched, and the shooter walks right into the trap.

The shot is launched on the side of the goalkeeper that should be exposed, but the goalkeepers trailing arm becomes an unpleasent surprise for the shooter.

Save with a supporting leg

Save with a supporting leg

Through a broad stance, small movements with his left foot and keeping the right foot on the floor, the goalkeeper signals to the shooter that a shot between the legs could be a favourable choice.

The Shooter walks right into the trap and launches his shot right where the goalkeeper wants him to shoot. By moving his supporting leg sideways the goalkeeper effectively shuts the gap and the penalty shot is saved.

Pivot School

Russian Screen

Russian Screen

The backcourt player attacks against his defender to lure him out. Then he makes sidestep towards the middle and goes for a jump shot.

The pivot player then takes a step forward and makes a well-timed side screen on the defender who now is stopped with no chance to follow the movement. The other defender must then go out on the shooter.

At the same time the pivot player falls down in the open space, receives the pass and finish the attack.

Twist away from defender

Twist away from defender

Today, Handball is a demanding role for a Pivot player. You need some tricks up your sleeve to be able to break away and take a shot.

The defender is holding on to the Pivot player. At the same time as the Pivot player catches the ball, he moves his weight downwards and twists away from the defender. What will decide if he succeeds in breaking loose, is that when twisting away he must block the arm of the defender at the same time.

The blocking of the arm combined with the movement of the line player, eliminates the defenders ability to resist the force that this movement presents. Please note how he squeezes right above the elbow of the defender.

Attack School

Underarm shot

Underarm shot

In today's handball a backcourt player should master many different types of shooting techniques.

The underarm shot is one of the most difficult for the goalkeepers since the shot often comes as a surprise and from a hidden position.

It is important that the last step is a long one. That the shooter presses down the front leg and that he uses a lot of wrist when he shoots.

Screw

Screw

The key here is for the attacker to make the jump as high as possible and thereby gain time needed to finish his shot. By raising his arm and at the same time changing the angle of his upper torso, the attacker wants the goalkeeper to believe that he will shoot the ball in the nearest corner.

But, at the highest point of his jump there is a sudden change. He lowers his hand and with a flick of the wrist he places the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.

Please note the attackers body positioning, paying attention to the angle of his upper torso, and also note the flick of his wrist and the spin that is put on the ball.

Lay up

Lay up

This might very well be the most technically demanding jump shot of them all. First and foremost, a quick high jump is needed in order to gain as much time and favourable angle as possible. With his lower arm, the wingman wants the goalkeeper to think that he will shoot in the far corner.

As the goalkeeper comes down from his covering top position, the wingman, acting with perfect timing, makes a lay up movement and shoots the ball passed the top of the goalkeepers head.

Feint School

Reversed feint

Reversed feint

This feint is one of the sport's most classic and effective for breakthroughs. The feint is based on an offensive player that attacks in high speed and makes a powerful arm rotation, at the same moment as the defender is trying to get body contact.

Just before contact the attacker lays the free hand on the defender's upper arm, presses him to the side and slides past for a goal attempt. To succeed with the feint you need timing and correct distance to the defender.

Twist feint

Twist feint

In this video sequence, the flow of the shooters movement is crucial. It enables him to maintain the force of the rotation all the way to the actual shot. The Shooter wants the defender to believe that he will launch an under arm shot.

Thanks to a major shooting feint, the defender comes down low on his left foot, this is when the shooter turns and launches the Twist feint. If the shooter has calculated his timing right, he has two more steps left to twist around and launch his shot.

In order to pull off the feint, you have to execute it clearly and thereby leaving the defender rooted on the spot in order to increase your shooting chances.

Three-step-feint

Three-step-feint

The Three-step-fient is a part of Handball ABC and is considered to be one of the most used feints within the sport.

The Shooter, moving forward at a high speed, catches the ball and takes one big step to the left. Thereafter, he sets off with great speed and power to the right and after the third step he jumps up and launches his shot.

To succeed with the three-step-feint, there are some important details you need to pay attention to. Number one is to have enough strength in your legs to execute the feint properly. Number two is make sure you have the proper distance between yourself and the defender throughout the enitre movement.

Shot feint

Shot feint

The goal for the shooter is to leave the defender passive and rooted on the spot. If he succeeds, he has a better chance of launching the shot above the defender.

In order to pull off the feint, you have to execute it clearly and make sure you have power left in your legs to jump up and launch your shot. Goalkeeper - far corner save.

In this video we can see the wingman launching his shot and the goalkeeper is trying to make him aim for the far corner.

The goalkeeper is very offensive and adjusts his position by several small movements. When the shot is finally launched, the goalkeeper blocks the far corner with both his arms and left leg.

Please note that this is executed with full force and in an explosive way.

Penalty Throw

With raised arm

With raised arm

If you want to be a good penalty throw executer you need a wide range of different penalty throws in your repertoire. This one demands a distinct flick in the wrist and precision.

The penalty thrower's objective is to shoot the ball in the gap between the goalkeeper's leg and arm.

He begins by holding the ball with a raised arm in order to lure the goalie to hold his hands in a high position. By doing small hand movements he gets the goalkeeper unsure when the ball is about to be thrown.

The shot will then come as a surprise and the penalty thrower angles the ball down in the gap with his wrist.

Lob

Lob

If you are facing an offensive goalkeeper, a lob could be very effective. As a shooter it is important that you try to get the Goalkeeper to make the first move.

Make a small body feint or go for a really powerful shot to get the Goalkeeper moving. Once the Goalkeeper has started to move, preferably sideways, it is very difficult for him or her to reach a well balanced lob.

Please note the hand and wrist movement of the shooter…

Thumb screw

Thumb screw

A variation of the penalty shot is the so called thumb screw, which accompanied with a flick of the wrist, can be very effective and spectacular.

A dummy move will make the goalkeeper cover the wrong corner, enabling the shooter to place the ball close to his standing leg. Please note the flick and twist of the wrist and the effect it has on the trajectory of the ball…

Passing School

Backhand

Backhand

The attack starts with a distinct shot feint from the backcourt player, which forces the defender to step out against him to block the shot.

But instead of shooting, the backcourt player makes a quick sidestep movement and releases the ball to the pivot player, who in the same movement has made a side screening against his defender and created a space for the pass.

Over head

Over head

A variation, that might frustrate the defender, is when the attacker passes the ball closley over the defenders head. To succeed, you have to trick the defender to lower his hands.

One way of executing it is to feint a low shot, but by using your wrist, play the ball over his head instead.

The pass demands excellent wrist skills and will be a surprising choice of passing the ball, for any defense exposed to it.

Between legs

Between legs

To pass the ball on to the Pivot player, is a challenge. The key is to find space for the pass to the Pivot player, as it turns out, there is a lot of space around the defenders legs. Through the attackers quick change of pace and his quick move to the side, he forces the defender to move sideways.

Then, at the most advantageous moment, he plays the ball in the gap that becomes present when the defender moves his legs.

From the Pivot players point of view it is important that he moves along with the movement of his team mate, enabling him to catch the ball, twist around to get round the defender and last, but not least, score a goal.

Please notice the timing of the attacker when he plays the ball between the defenders legs…